Ear flap 1:

Cast on 10 stitches.
Row 1: p2, k2, p2, k2, p2
Increase on stitch on each side for 8 rows, there should be 26 stitches total.
On last increase row: increase st, p1, k2, p2, 6-stKC (sl 4 st to cn and hold to front, k2, sl 2 p sts back to LH needle, hold 2 st on cn to back of work, p2 from LH needle), p2, k2, p2, k2, p2, k2, p2

Body of earflap:
WS: k2, p2 to end
RS: p2, k2 to end

(A full repeat of the pattern is 16 st)

Rows 1- 4:

ws
rs
ws
(p2, k2) 3 times, p2, 6-st KC, p2, k2, p2
Rows 5-8:

ws
rs
ws
p2, k2, p2, 6-st KC, (p2, k2) 3 times, p2
Repeat this sequence 2 1/2 times.
Cut tail and start second earflap.

Repeat the above for earflap 2.
After finishing the last row, make sure that both earflaps are facing out on the circular needle. If not, take one off and flip it around.

After last stitch on earflap 2, cast on 38 stitches and then continue in pattern over earflap 1.

At the end of earflap 1, cast on 22 stitches and continue over earflap 2.

When knitting gets to the last 4 stitches of earflap 2, that is the end of Row 1 of the body.

Hat body:

Continue in the following pattern for the body:

Rows 1- 4:

ws
rs
ws
(p2, k2) 3 times, p2, 6-st KC, p2, k2, p2
Rows 5-8:

ws
rs
ws
p2, k2, p2, 6-st KC, (p2, k2) 3 times, p2
Repeat this sequence 4 1/2 times.

On the next row, start the decrease every other row. Decrease by k2 together on knit rows closest to the end of the repeat. Work this through all knit sections, then do the same through the purl sections. Then decrease once every repeat until the end.

Make pom - pom and add to top. Add 4-strand ties to the bottom middle of each earflap.